First phase of synthetic human genome project successfully completes
The first phase of the U.K. synthetic human genome project has successfully completed, realizing key steps in chromosome synthesis. The work has demonstrated a multistep method for transfecting mouse stem cells with native human chromosomes, where they are stably maintained and can be manipulated to replace native DNA with synthetic DNA. The engineered chromosomes can then be transferred into a human cell in place of the native chromosomes.

First phase of synthetic human genome project successfully completes
The first phase of the U.K. synthetic human genome project has successfully completed, realizing key steps in chromosome synthesis. The work has demonstrated a multistep method for transfecting mouse stem cells with native human chromosomes, where they are stably maintained and can be manipulated to replace native DNA with synthetic DNA. The engineered chromosomes can then be transferred into a human cell in place of the native chromosomes.
Laigo raises €11.5M seed money for targeted protein degradation
Laigo Bio BV has raised €11.5 million (US$13.7 million) in a seed round for the further development of a new approach to inducing targeted protein degradation by E3 ubiquitin ligases.
Neurimmune inks deal to advance NI-009 for AL amyloidosis
Neurimmune AG has expanded its transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) collaboration with Alexion, Astrazeneca Rare Disease by entering into an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement to develop NI-009, a fibril depleter for light chain (AL) amyloidosis.
FDA approves IND for CSPC’s SYH-2069 for obesity
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA to conduct clinical trials in the U.S. with SYH-2069 for weight management in individuals with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related comorbidity.
Crescent Biopharma partners with Kelun-Biotech in oncology
Crescent Biopharma Inc. has announced a new partnership with Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and reported progress across its pipeline, with three distinct programs set to enter the clinic next year.
Holiday notice
In accordance with the publishing schedule, BioWorld Science will not be published on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
IL-17C/IL-17RE axis drives endometriosis-linked carcinogenesis
A recently published study, conducted by researchers from Jinan University and collaborating institutions, aimed to investigate the mechanisms of endometriosis-driven carcinogenesis.
Wigen Biomedicine patents new PI3Kα inhibitors
Wigen Biomedicine Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has disclosed phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of solid cancers and hematological cancers.
CR-001, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody with potent activity
Researchers from Crescent Biopharma Inc. and Paragon Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical development of CR-001.
Avencell’s AVC-203 cleared for clinic for B-cell malignancies
Avencell Therapeutics Inc. has received clinical trial clearances from the FDA and EMA to conduct a phase I/II trial (Quadvance) of AVC-203 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.

Conferences

CTAD 2025: The challenges of combination therapies for dementia
Neurology/psychiatric
At the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease 2025 meeting, a panel of experts discussed the need for developing combination therapies for the complex diseases that result in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
ABT-863 shows in vivo efficacy without Treg depletion
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
Abilita Therapeutics Inc. has developed a novel approach targeting CCR8 – ABT-863 – that works as a potent inverse agonist to block CCL1-dependent and basal receptor signaling.
ARV-102 targets LRRK2 to prevent neurodegeneration
Neurology/psychiatric
LRRK2 plays a key role in the biology of multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), where mutations or altered activity are associated with impaired cellular signaling and neuronal decline.
RMC-6272 synergizes with MEK inhibitors in glioblastoma
Cancer
Previous findings have shown that the bisteric mTORC1 inhibitor Rapalink-1 exerts superior efficacy than the parent inhibitors rapamycin and sapanisertib in orthotopic xenograft models of glioblastoma. The bitopic clinical derivative of this compound is RMC-5552 from Revolution Medicines Inc.,...

Cancer

Vycellix to seek Swedish clinical trial clearance for VNK-101
Regulatory
Vycellix Inc. has successfully completed preclinical development for its universal cell engineering platform (VY-UC) and will now seek clinical trial clearance in Sweden to begin a phase I study of VNK-101, an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy engineered with VY-UC for relapsed or...

Infection

HIV remission after heterozygous CCR5Δ32 stem cell transplant
Science
2025 has been the most challenging year in the efforts to fight HIV since at least the advent of antiretroviral therapy. In a report on “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” released last week ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS...

Aerolysin-producing Aeromonas is behind ulcerative colitis
Gastrointestinal
Researchers from the Medical School of Nanjing University hypothesized that in ulcerative colitis, the gut-resident macrophages may be compromised, leading to impaired integrity of the epithelial barrier. “From a basic science standpoint, our work uncovers a novel etiology of ulcerative colitis....
Harmane-based quaternary ammonium salt against drug-resistant S. aureus
Researchers at Shandong Second Medical University have developed a dimethyl quaternary ammonium derivative of harmane that shows strong potential for attacking the bacterium through diverse mechanisms.

Neurology/psychiatric

Arrakis reports preclinical progress of rSM program to treat DM1
Arrakis Therapeutics Inc. has announced the presentation of preclinical data demonstrating the progress of its RNA-targeted small molecule (rSM) drug program for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).
Lynk’s allosteric TYK2 inhibitor LNK-01006 gains IND clearance
Regulatory
Lynk Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has received IND clearance from the FDA for LNK-01006, an allosteric TYK2 inhibitor with potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Vectory’s VTX-002 gains IND clearance for ALS
Regulatory
Vectory Therapeutics BV has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for a phase I/II trial (PIONEER-ALS) of VTX-002, a first-in-class vectorized antibody targeting TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). VTX-002 delivers an engineered antibody designed to selectively target toxic...
FDA clears Latus Bio’s LTS-101 to enter clinic for CLN2 disease
Regulatory
Latus Bio Inc. has reported IND clearance by the FDA for LTS-101, a gene therapy candidate to treat the CNS manifestations of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) disease. The FDA has also granted orphan drug, rare pediatric disease and fast track designations to LTS-101.
Akeso’s AK-135 relieves chemotherapy-induced pain
Conferences
Akeso Biopharma Inc. has developed an anti-IL-1RAP therapeutic, AK-135, for the potential treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Endocrine/metabolic

Junevity raises funds to advance siRNA metabolism program
Financings
Junevity Inc. has raised $10 million in new funding, bringing its seed financing to a total of $20 million. The new funding will enable Junevity to advance JUN-01, its lead siRNA program for type 2 diabetes and obesity, through IND-enabling and initial clinical studies.

Biomarkers

Mesothelin is biomarker, potential target in arthritic bone damage
Musculoskeletal
In a recent study published in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers from the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Xi’an Jiao Tong University Health Science Center found that Mesothelin (MSLN) was significantly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

UK Biobank delivers largest metabolomics dataset of 500K profiles
Science
It’s the biological resource that keeps on giving, and now UK Biobank has released the final tranche of data on the levels of 249 metabolites in the blood of its half a million participants.
With transdiagnostic approach, smaller target groups aren’t inevitably smaller markets
Neurology/psychiatric
Despite the formidable challenges for developing precision psychiatry, the approach is notching its first successes in the preclinical and even some clinical settings. Many individual studies as well as large projects like the Psychiatric Ratings using Intermediate Markers (PRISM) studies and the...

Gastrointestinal

Tangram seeks clinical trial clearance for TGM-312 for MASH
Regulatory
Tangram Therapeutics plc has submitted a clinical trial application (CTA) to the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to initiate a phase I/II trial of TGM-312 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Opko’s OPK-88006 shows hepatoprotection in MASH
Conferences
Opko Health Inc. has recently presented data for their GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist OPK-88006, which is in preclinical development for the treatment of metabolic disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)...
UK study reveals inconsistencies in global microbiome research
Regulatory
The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is calling for unified standards to harmonize microbiome research, after revealing major inconsistencies in the results when labs around the world analyzed identical reference samples of...
Samjin Pharmaceutical patents new compounds for MASH
Patents
Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has disclosed inhibitors of 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13; 17-β-HSD 13) and/or estradiol 17-β-dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1; 17β-HSD1) and/or HSD17B2 (17β-HSD2). As such, they are believed to be...
Imhotex patents new NOD2 activators for Crohn’s disease
Patents
Imhotex Ltd. has disclosed desmuramylpeptide (DMP) analogues of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) acting as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) activators reported to be useful for the treatment of Crohn’s disease.
Numab and Kaken sign agreement for NM-81 for IBD
Collaboration
Numab Therapeutics AG and Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have entered into a strategic licensing and co-development agreement for NM-81, a multi-specific antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

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